Two Brothers Die in Crash Involving Abia Deputy Speaker’s Convoy

Tragedy struck on the Obehie axis of the Enugu–Umuahia–Aba–Port Harcourt Expressway after two brothers, Ifeanyi Maduako (45) and Onyedi Obasi (35), lost their lives in an accident allegedly involving the convoy of the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini.

The victims, who hailed from Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, had returned from overseas—one from Gambia, the other from the Philippines—for their mother’s burial. They were reportedly on their way back when the crash occurred.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the convoy was speeding when it rammed into the victims’ Toyota Spider, though police and Federal Road Safety Corps are yet to issue an official statement on the cause. Both vehicles were taken to Obehie Police Station.

The collision left members of the Deputy Speaker’s security team injured. One of them, the driver of the pick-up truck, is said to be at risk of paralysis without urgent spinal surgery. They are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

In a statement issued after the incident, Meregini denied being in the convoy at the time of the crash. His media aide, Grant Okeigbo, described the accident as “an unfortunate tragedy” involving the official pick-up truck and a Toyota Spider.

“Regrettably, both occupants of the Toyota Spider (The driver and passenger) lost their lives in the collision.

It is important to state clearly that the Deputy Speaker was not in the pick-up vehicle at the time of the accident. The truck was alone returning from an errand to Port Harcourt when the unfortunate accident occurred.

The Toyota Spider was driving against traffic (one-way) because of the bad condition of the other side of the lane. According to eyewitness accounts and the submission of the surviving truck driver, the Toyota Spider either suffered a burst tire or brake failure, which caused the Spider to lose control and veer into the path of the Deputy Speaker’s pick-up truck.

“This resulted in a very bad collision between the two vehicles and, unfortunately, led to the death of the two occupants of the Toyota Spider.

The driver of the truck and the two policemen sustained serious injuries, putting their lives under very critical conditions, to the extent that the driver of the truck is currently on life support and being considered for spine surgery, following the recommendation of a neurosurgeon at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly considers this a tragic incident and sent emissaries to the bereaved family the following day after the accident (Monday, August 4th, 2025) while working round the clock with medical professionals to save the lives of his surviving driver and security details.

“The interface and discussion between the emissaries from the Deputy Speaker and the bereaved family is still ongoing to agree on how best the bereaved family can be supported during this very difficult time, without consideration of the circumstances leading to the accident in the first place.

The deputy speaker is surprised and pained that such unconfirmed News is being peddled and circulated on social media spaces against his person without hearing from him, and does not believe that the bereaved family can be behind such misrepresentation of facts, considering the circumstances and the communications thus far.

“The Deputy Speaker is appealing to the general public, especially the media, to exercise caution to avoid spreading unverified reports, especially in such sensitive matters involving loss of lives.

“Out of respect for the deceased and their family, the deputy speaker’s Office has deliberately refrained from going into certain details.

The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini is a man of empathy and responsibility who has consistently supported individuals and families in distress across the State and beyond, even when he is not in any way connected to the parties involved.

The deputy speaker once again extends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and prays for the repose of their souls in God’s bosom.”